Overweight and obesity between adolescence and young adulthood: A 10-year prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: To assess changes in overweight and obesity between adolescence and young adulthood. Design: Prospective 8-wave cohort study in Victoria, Australia, with 1,520 adolescents tracked from the age of 14 for a period of 10 years. Main outcome measures: Participants aged 18 years overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) <25; and obesity as a BMI <30. Results: The proportion of overweight individuals increased from 20% in mid-adolescence to 33% at the age of 24 years. Obesity increased from 3.6% to 6.7%. Approximately 40% of young adults with a BMI <25 had been persistently at normal weights during adolescence and approximately 80% had been at a normal weight at some point. Aro..